The Educational Status of Turks in Minority Schools: A Qualitative Exploration in Western Thrace
Keywords:
Dr. Sadık Ahmet, Education, Greece, Turkish minorities, Western Thrace
Abstract
The main purpose of this research is to address the educational status of Turks living in Western Thrace in minority schools. After the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye, the Thrace region was divided into East and West, with Western Thrace now covering parts of Greece and Bulgaria. Around 150,000 Turks live in this region, facing social challenges, particularly in education. This research examines the problems experienced by Turks in minority education, the struggles in the process and its effects. The research is qualitative and designed with a phenomenological pattern. The study group comprises 13 participants selected through the maximum sampling method. The selection criteria for participants included: completion of primary and secondary education in minority schools in Greece, pursuit of higher education in Türkiye, and experience in teaching or working in a Greek minority school. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview form, with interviews recorded and analyzed using content analysis. The prominent conclusions are as follows: There are cultural problems in the education of Turkish minorities in Greece and there are legal obstacles to solution; there has been a struggle on this issue for years, there have been periodic improvements, but the fundamental problems still continue; it has been seen that many people, such as Dr. Sadık Ahmet, pioneered civil initiatives and that the initiatives had positive and negative effects. In conclusion, this research highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Turkish minority in Western Thrace regarding their education. Despite periodic improvements and civil initiatives, fundamental problems persist due to cultural barriers and legal restrictions. The findings emphasize the need for continued efforts to address these issues and propose solutions to improve minority education in Greece. It is recommended that legal and educational reforms be implemented to address the challenges faced by the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, ensuring equal and improved access to quality education.
References
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Arifianto, A. R., & Santo, A. (2020). Exploring religious pluralism and social harmony in Indonesian society. Journal of Theology, 4(1), 45–60.
Aydin, H., & Kaya, Y. (2020). Ethnic and cultural identity issues in Turkish education policy: An analysis of minorities' educational challenges. Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research, 15(2), 55–74.
Bano, S., & Ahmed, M. (2021). Teachers' perceptions of bias and its impact on minority students' academic identity. International Journal of Educational Research Review, 6(1), 1–12.
Baysal, F. (2013). Türk-Yunan ilişkilerinde bir sorun alanı: Batı Trakya Müslüman Türk azınlığı [Master's thesis, Trakya Üniversitesi].
Burma, M. (2008). Lozan'dan günümüze Batı Trakya'da azınlık eğitimi [Master's thesis, Trakya Üniversitesi].
Chandra, A. R., & Faisal, F. (2022). Cultural traditions and their role in religious tolerance in rural Indonesia. Journal of Community and Cultural Studies, 4(2), 89–101.
Cin, T. (2009). Batı Trakya Türklerinin hukuki statüsü sorunları ve Avrupa Birliği. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 147–179.
Cin, T. (2011). Yunanistan'daki Müslüman Türk azınlığın eğitim ve öğretimine ilişkin hukuki düzenlemeler (1830–1940). Ege Stratejik Araştırmalar Dergisi, 2(1), 48–60.
Dayıoğlu, A. (2021). Batı Trakya Müslüman Türk azınlığının uluslararası hukuktan doğan eğitim hakları. LAÜ Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 12(2), 224–242.
Dragona, T. (2014). Trakya'da iki dilli eğitim. In P. Hayrullah (Ed.), Azınlık eğitiminde iki dillilik ve dilsel yeterliliğin gelişimi (pp. 22–34). Gümülcine: B.A.K.E.Ş. Yayınları.
Ergün, H. (2023). Birlik ve Rodop Rüzgârı Haberlerinde Batı Trakya Türklerinin eğitim sorunları. İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Araştırmaları Dergisi, 12(3).
Giasar, V. (2022). Yunanistan'da azınlık olmak ya da Batı Trakya'da uygulanan eğitim politikalarının değerlendirilmesi. Olgu Sosyoloji Dergisi, 1(2), 44–51.
González, N., & Andrade, R. (2020). Culturally responsive pedagogy and minority inclusion. International Journal of Multicultural Education, 22(3), 33–47. https://doi.org/10.18251/ijme.v22i3.2743
Hacıpaşaoğlu, N. (2019a). Batı Trakya Türk azınlığının iki dilli eğitim modeline yönelik bir değerlendirme. Balkanistik Dil ve Edebiyat Dergisi, 1(01), 81–96.
Hacıpaşaoğlu, N. (2019b). Ortaöğretimini Yunanistan'da tamamlamış Türk azınlık öğrencilerinin Yunanca yazılı anlatım becerilerinin değerlendirilmesi [Master's thesis, Trakya Üniversitesi].
Holliday, A. (2021). The struggle for linguistic human rights. Language and Intercultural Communication, 21(2), 119–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2021.1881859
Hüseyinoğlu, A. (2015). Balkanlarda Türk dilinin dünü ve bugünü: Batı Trakya (Yunanistan) örneği. Elektronik Siyaset Bilimi Araştırmaları Dergisi, 6(11), 79–96.
Islam, M. R., & Yilmaz, S. (2022). Language exclusion and minority students' civic participation in multicultural Europe. Journal of Multicultural Education Studies, 10(3), 203–220.
İsmail, A. (2012). Yunanistan'da azınlık hakları: Batı Trakya Türk azınlığı örneği [Master's thesis, Ankara Üniversitesi].
Jansen, M., & Kara, H. (2021). Language rights and minority schooling: A comparative study. European Journal of Minority Issues, 8(2), 140–158.
Kalogeropoulos, K., & Deligianni, M. (2023). Schooling without a voice: Muslim minorities and education policy in Southeast Europe. Comparative Education Review, 67(1), 35–50.
Karatas, H., & Koca, S. (2023). Educational identity development among minorities. Multicultural Education Review, 15(1), 66–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/2005615X.2023.2175268
Kelağa Ahmet, İ. (2007). Yunanistan'da Batı Trakya'da Türk azınlığın anadili ve eğitim dillerinden biri olarak Türkçe. In 38. Uluslararası Asya ve Kuzey Afrika Çalışmaları Kongresi (ICANAS) (Vol. 2, pp. 977–991).
Keyvan, Ö. Z. (2012). Türk-Yunan ilişkilerinde Batı Trakya Türkleri sorunu. Mesleki Bilimler Dergisi, 1(4), 20–31.
Kılıç, E., & Demirtaş, M. (2020). Cultural distance and student achievement among ethnic minorities in Turkey. Education and Urban Society, 52(8), 1220–1240.
Kleyn, T., & García, O. (2020). Translanguaging and the education of emergent bilinguals. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 23(1), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2019.1674401
Krzyżanowska, N., & Wodak, R. (2021). Discursive exclusion and minority marginalization. Discourse & Society, 32(5), 563–583. https://doi.org/10.1177/09579265211002533
Kulalı, Y. (2015). Batı Trakya Müslüman Türk azınlığı: Dünün sorunları, bugünün gelişmeleri. Uluslararası Hukuk ve Politika, 43, 131–161.
Lee, J., & Park, H. (2021). Dual-language education and dropout patterns among minority youth. International Journal of Bilingual Education, 24(6), 793–810.
Majidi, M. (2021). Higher education access among ethnic minorities. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 51(4), 530–547. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2021.1875016
Miller, S. (2003). Analysis of phenomenological data generated with children as research participants. Nurse Researcher, 10(4), 68–82.
Nahar, N., & Chowdhury, A. (2021). Private tutoring and minority education: A study from South Asia. International Education Journal: Comparative Perspectives, 20(2), 87–99.
Ntoukiantzi, M. (2022). Batı Trakya Müslüman Türk Azınlığın din ve Eğitim Sorunları [Doctoral dissertation, Bursa Uludağ University].
Ouzoungiol, A., & Asal, Ö. Ü. U. Y. (2021). Azınlıklar ve Batı Trakya Türk azınlığının sorunları. Working Paper Series Dergisi, 2(2), 46–61.
Özlem, K. (2008). Bulgaristan Türklerinin tarihsel süreç içerisinde dönüşümü, AB üyelik süreci ve Türk azınlığa etkileri. Journal of International Social Research, 1(2).
Paçaman, H. (2010). Batı Trakya'ya Işık Tutanlar: Hüseyin Mustafa (1912–1985). Hakka Davet Yayınları.
Rahman, T., & Tamo, L. (2022). National curriculum and minority misrepresentation: A discourse analysis. Journal of Critical Education Policy Studies, 20(1), 58–75.
Rizki, R. A., & Suryaningsih, E. (2021). The role of traditional institutions in building social cohesion in Eastern Indonesia. Jurnal Komunitas, 13(2), 220–235.
Sahin, I., & Aksoy, N. (2021). Intercultural education policy in minority contexts. International Journal of Educational Development, 82, 102381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2021.102381
Susanti, E., & Taufiqurrohman, M. (2021). Civic education and local culture: Reinforcing tolerance among youth in pluralistic communities. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, 11(2), 142–158.
Timmerman, C., & Dijkstra, T. (2021). Multilingualism and identity in minority settings. Journal of Language, Identity & Education, 20(3), 173–188. https://doi.org/10.1080/15348458.2021.1872576
Widodo, W., & Karimah, M. (2023). Indigenous wisdom and modern pedagogy: Harmonizing religious tolerance in Indonesian schools. Journal of Multicultural Education, 17(4), 390–405.
Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2013). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri. Seçkin Yayınları.
Yılmaz, F., & Bektaş, F. (2022). Competence and commitment in bilingual teaching. Language and Education, 36(2), 161–176. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500782.2022.2031987
Akyüz, B. (2007). Batı Trakya Türk toplumunun eğitim ve öğretim problemleri [Doctoral dissertation, Sakarya Üniversitesi].
Arifianto, A. R., & Santo, A. (2020). Exploring religious pluralism and social harmony in Indonesian society. Journal of Theology, 4(1), 45–60.
Aydin, H., & Kaya, Y. (2020). Ethnic and cultural identity issues in Turkish education policy: An analysis of minorities' educational challenges. Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research, 15(2), 55–74.
Bano, S., & Ahmed, M. (2021). Teachers' perceptions of bias and its impact on minority students' academic identity. International Journal of Educational Research Review, 6(1), 1–12.
Baysal, F. (2013). Türk-Yunan ilişkilerinde bir sorun alanı: Batı Trakya Müslüman Türk azınlığı [Master's thesis, Trakya Üniversitesi].
Burma, M. (2008). Lozan'dan günümüze Batı Trakya'da azınlık eğitimi [Master's thesis, Trakya Üniversitesi].
Chandra, A. R., & Faisal, F. (2022). Cultural traditions and their role in religious tolerance in rural Indonesia. Journal of Community and Cultural Studies, 4(2), 89–101.
Cin, T. (2009). Batı Trakya Türklerinin hukuki statüsü sorunları ve Avrupa Birliği. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 147–179.
Cin, T. (2011). Yunanistan'daki Müslüman Türk azınlığın eğitim ve öğretimine ilişkin hukuki düzenlemeler (1830–1940). Ege Stratejik Araştırmalar Dergisi, 2(1), 48–60.
Dayıoğlu, A. (2021). Batı Trakya Müslüman Türk azınlığının uluslararası hukuktan doğan eğitim hakları. LAÜ Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 12(2), 224–242.
Dragona, T. (2014). Trakya'da iki dilli eğitim. In P. Hayrullah (Ed.), Azınlık eğitiminde iki dillilik ve dilsel yeterliliğin gelişimi (pp. 22–34). Gümülcine: B.A.K.E.Ş. Yayınları.
Ergün, H. (2023). Birlik ve Rodop Rüzgârı Haberlerinde Batı Trakya Türklerinin eğitim sorunları. İnsan ve Toplum Bilimleri Araştırmaları Dergisi, 12(3).
Giasar, V. (2022). Yunanistan'da azınlık olmak ya da Batı Trakya'da uygulanan eğitim politikalarının değerlendirilmesi. Olgu Sosyoloji Dergisi, 1(2), 44–51.
González, N., & Andrade, R. (2020). Culturally responsive pedagogy and minority inclusion. International Journal of Multicultural Education, 22(3), 33–47. https://doi.org/10.18251/ijme.v22i3.2743
Hacıpaşaoğlu, N. (2019a). Batı Trakya Türk azınlığının iki dilli eğitim modeline yönelik bir değerlendirme. Balkanistik Dil ve Edebiyat Dergisi, 1(01), 81–96.
Hacıpaşaoğlu, N. (2019b). Ortaöğretimini Yunanistan'da tamamlamış Türk azınlık öğrencilerinin Yunanca yazılı anlatım becerilerinin değerlendirilmesi [Master's thesis, Trakya Üniversitesi].
Holliday, A. (2021). The struggle for linguistic human rights. Language and Intercultural Communication, 21(2), 119–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2021.1881859
Hüseyinoğlu, A. (2015). Balkanlarda Türk dilinin dünü ve bugünü: Batı Trakya (Yunanistan) örneği. Elektronik Siyaset Bilimi Araştırmaları Dergisi, 6(11), 79–96.
Islam, M. R., & Yilmaz, S. (2022). Language exclusion and minority students' civic participation in multicultural Europe. Journal of Multicultural Education Studies, 10(3), 203–220.
İsmail, A. (2012). Yunanistan'da azınlık hakları: Batı Trakya Türk azınlığı örneği [Master's thesis, Ankara Üniversitesi].
Jansen, M., & Kara, H. (2021). Language rights and minority schooling: A comparative study. European Journal of Minority Issues, 8(2), 140–158.
Kalogeropoulos, K., & Deligianni, M. (2023). Schooling without a voice: Muslim minorities and education policy in Southeast Europe. Comparative Education Review, 67(1), 35–50.
Karatas, H., & Koca, S. (2023). Educational identity development among minorities. Multicultural Education Review, 15(1), 66–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/2005615X.2023.2175268
Kelağa Ahmet, İ. (2007). Yunanistan'da Batı Trakya'da Türk azınlığın anadili ve eğitim dillerinden biri olarak Türkçe. In 38. Uluslararası Asya ve Kuzey Afrika Çalışmaları Kongresi (ICANAS) (Vol. 2, pp. 977–991).
Keyvan, Ö. Z. (2012). Türk-Yunan ilişkilerinde Batı Trakya Türkleri sorunu. Mesleki Bilimler Dergisi, 1(4), 20–31.
Kılıç, E., & Demirtaş, M. (2020). Cultural distance and student achievement among ethnic minorities in Turkey. Education and Urban Society, 52(8), 1220–1240.
Kleyn, T., & García, O. (2020). Translanguaging and the education of emergent bilinguals. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, 23(1), 45–59. https://doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2019.1674401
Krzyżanowska, N., & Wodak, R. (2021). Discursive exclusion and minority marginalization. Discourse & Society, 32(5), 563–583. https://doi.org/10.1177/09579265211002533
Kulalı, Y. (2015). Batı Trakya Müslüman Türk azınlığı: Dünün sorunları, bugünün gelişmeleri. Uluslararası Hukuk ve Politika, 43, 131–161.
Lee, J., & Park, H. (2021). Dual-language education and dropout patterns among minority youth. International Journal of Bilingual Education, 24(6), 793–810.
Majidi, M. (2021). Higher education access among ethnic minorities. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 51(4), 530–547. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2021.1875016
Miller, S. (2003). Analysis of phenomenological data generated with children as research participants. Nurse Researcher, 10(4), 68–82.
Nahar, N., & Chowdhury, A. (2021). Private tutoring and minority education: A study from South Asia. International Education Journal: Comparative Perspectives, 20(2), 87–99.
Ntoukiantzi, M. (2022). Batı Trakya Müslüman Türk Azınlığın din ve Eğitim Sorunları [Doctoral dissertation, Bursa Uludağ University].
Ouzoungiol, A., & Asal, Ö. Ü. U. Y. (2021). Azınlıklar ve Batı Trakya Türk azınlığının sorunları. Working Paper Series Dergisi, 2(2), 46–61.
Özlem, K. (2008). Bulgaristan Türklerinin tarihsel süreç içerisinde dönüşümü, AB üyelik süreci ve Türk azınlığa etkileri. Journal of International Social Research, 1(2).
Paçaman, H. (2010). Batı Trakya'ya Işık Tutanlar: Hüseyin Mustafa (1912–1985). Hakka Davet Yayınları.
Rahman, T., & Tamo, L. (2022). National curriculum and minority misrepresentation: A discourse analysis. Journal of Critical Education Policy Studies, 20(1), 58–75.
Rizki, R. A., & Suryaningsih, E. (2021). The role of traditional institutions in building social cohesion in Eastern Indonesia. Jurnal Komunitas, 13(2), 220–235.
Sahin, I., & Aksoy, N. (2021). Intercultural education policy in minority contexts. International Journal of Educational Development, 82, 102381. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2021.102381
Susanti, E., & Taufiqurrohman, M. (2021). Civic education and local culture: Reinforcing tolerance among youth in pluralistic communities. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan, 11(2), 142–158.
Timmerman, C., & Dijkstra, T. (2021). Multilingualism and identity in minority settings. Journal of Language, Identity & Education, 20(3), 173–188. https://doi.org/10.1080/15348458.2021.1872576
Widodo, W., & Karimah, M. (2023). Indigenous wisdom and modern pedagogy: Harmonizing religious tolerance in Indonesian schools. Journal of Multicultural Education, 17(4), 390–405.
Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2013). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri. Seçkin Yayınları.
Yılmaz, F., & Bektaş, F. (2022). Competence and commitment in bilingual teaching. Language and Education, 36(2), 161–176. https://doi.org/10.1080/09500782.2022.2031987
Published
2025-06-01
How to Cite
Tösten, R., Han, B., & Göçken, B. E. (2025). The Educational Status of Turks in Minority Schools: A Qualitative Exploration in Western Thrace. Dinamika Ilmu, 25(1), 45-67. https://doi.org/10.21093/di.v25i1.9770
Section
Articles
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